Curtain-fixture.



' PATENTE'D JAN. 28, 1908.

H. E. KBELBR. CURTAIN FIXTURE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24, 1903'.

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HERBERT E. KEELER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO CURTAIN SUPPLY COMPANY,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

CURTAIN-FIXTURE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 28, 1908.

Application filed February 24. 1903. Serial No. 144.620. i

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT E. KEELER, a citizen of the United States, and resident of New York city, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Curtain-Fixtures, of which the following is a specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the same.

This invention relates to curtain fixtures, such as are specially adapted to be used in connection with spring-actuated curtains to hold the curtain securely in any desired position, and in which the curtain is maintained in parallel position as it is raised and lowered.

In the accompanying drawings in which the same reference character refers to similar parts in the several figures, Figure 1 shows Fig. 2'

this fixture as applied to a curtain. 1s a view on a larger scale showing one form of shoe, parts being broken away. Figs. 3

shoes.

way. Fig. 6 is a similar View. Figs. 7 8 and 9 are sectional detail views'indicating still other modified forms of shoes.

In the embodiment of this invention shown in the drawings, illustrated in Fig. 1, the suitable grooves or guideways L with which the curtain fixture cooperates may be formed on posts on either side of the window. The curtain A is mounted in the usual way, its upper end being secured to the springactuated roller L,. The lower end of this curtain carries the tube A which is preferably firmly secured in position within a suitable pocket in the lower end of the curtain by the clamping screw A If desired,

the suitable clamping plate A, may be used under the clamping screw to more firmly secure these parts together. If desired the lower end of the curtain may also be provided with the weighting strip L which may be of the desired weight to properly counterbalance the action of the spring roller and to secure the more perfect alinement of the fixture as the curtain is raised and lowered and to cause a more smooth and easy operation of the device. By usingthe weighting strip or a suitable weight applied if desired inside the curtain tube a much more perfect action of the curtain is secured. The spring roller is given under these conditions a strong tension so as to act quickly and positively in raising the curtain and keeping it taut while stationary. Furthermore, if the lower end of the curtain should become displaced from the proper horizontal position, the whole spring pressure operates at once and tends to raise that side of the curtain which is lower so as to restore the curtain to parallel position.

The shoes A are mounted in either end of the tube A,, each one of these shoes being preferably secured to a plunger A which reciprocates accurately within the end of the tube and which is preferably retained in the tube by any desired means. As is seen in Fig. 1, these plungers are provided with suitable elongated slots A within which fit the pins A which pass through suitable openings in the tube and which fit loosely within the slots A It is, of course, understood that these slots may be as deep as desired, the pins A extending as far as necessary through the plungers to secure the desired cooperation with them. The heads of these pins A may be soldered or otherwise suitably secured to the tube. WVithin the tube and engaging the inner end of each of the plungers is a suitable spiral spring A which is supported at its inner end by the collar In this manner the rotary guiding members A are spring pressed outward into engagement with the guideways L and are maintained in frictional contact with the guideways as the curtain fixture is operated.

The construction of the shoes and the rotary guiding members mounted therein is such that these guiding members operating in conjunction with the guideways against which they are pressed move the shoes inward against the spring pressure upon them as the shoes are moved along the guideways.

In this manner, the springs operating upon the shoes resist the rotation of the guiding members and hold the curtain securely in any desired position, and these springs are formed with the requisite strength to give the holdingpower required. The shoes and cooperating guideways may be given any desired form so that movement of the shoes along the guideways forces the shoes together, preferably in a regular manner, so that the spring pressure upon the shoes operates as has been stated to hold the shoes and to prevent undesirable movement along the guideways. The spring-pressed shoes are therefore simultaneously brought together on both sides of the fixture and simultaneously moved apart by reason of the action of the irregularly rotating guiding members or the irregular guideways upon which the shoes move, or the combined action of irregularly rotating guiding members and irregular guideways with which they cooperate. This result may be accomplished by forming the rotary guiding members which are pressed against the guideways in such manner that they rotate irregularly in the shoes by contact with the guideways as the curtain is raised and lowered. This irregular rotation of the guiding members effects a constant variation in the distance of the portion of the periphery of each of said guiding members in contact with the guideways from the axis of such guiding member during its rotation. The guiding members in either end of the shoe referably rotate in the same phase so that t e parallel position of the shoe is maintained as it is forced lat-- erally during its movement along the guide way. Furthermore, the inward movement of the shoes on either side of the fixture is referably simultaneous, the guiding members rotating in such way as to produce this result. The guiding members are preferably formed with peripheries which may be suitably knurled or roughened if desired and which engage the guideways sufficiently to positively cause the rotation of these guiding members as they are moved along the guideways. And these guiding members are mounted in the shoes to rotate freely with respect thereto, being preferably guided on either side by the adjacent sides of the slots in which they are mounted.

The irregularly rotating guiding members may take the form indicated in Fig. 2 in which the shoe A is shown as provided with the pivots B in either end of the same. The rotating guiding members A have in this in stance a non-circular elliptical form and each guiding member is provided with the enlarged pivot opening B which is of curved non-circular contour, the opening being shown as substantially elliptical and extending transversely with respect to the guiding member. As these guiding members are spring-pressed into engagement with the guideway L their irregular rotation is in sured whenever the shoe is moved along the guideway, since the guiding members by springs or otherwise have the requisite frictional engagement with the guideway so that no slip is permitted.

If desired, non-circular guiding members may be formed with a substantially circular pivot opening, as is shown in Fig. 3, the guiding members 0 being non-circular, as is inclicated, and being formed with suitably located pivot openings, so as to rotate irregularly about the pivots G which are fixed in either end of the shoe C This shoe is connected with the plunger 0 and operates in connection with the guideway L, as has already been described.

The non-circular rotating guiding members may take the substantially polygonal form indicated in Figs. 8 and 9, the guiding member G1 in Fig. 8 being substantially octagonal and being pivotally mounted in, the shoe G so as to rotate irregularly about the ivot G which may be fixed in the shoe. The angles of the polygonal guiding member are indicated as suitably rounded or curved so as to give the proper cooperation with the guideway. In ig. 9, the guiding member H is indicated as substantially hexagonal with the rounded corners H this guiding member being rotatably mounted by means of the pivot H, which if desired may be loosely mounted in the shoe and secured to the guiding member.

Circular guiding members may be formed with enlarged pivot openings of curved noncircular contour so as to secure the irregular rotation of the guiding members. A construction of this kind is indicated in Fig. 4, the shoe D being mounted upon the plunger D and being provided preferably at either end, with the pivots D Upon these pivots, the guiding members D are mounted which may have the circular form indicated, it being understood that these guiding members are pressed into engagement with the guideway L by spring pressure or otherwise to give the roper co-action between these two parts. By orming the non-circular pivot opening D of the curved form shown, the movement of the guiding members is very smooth and desirable, the curved pivot openings allowing the pivots to move smoothly and regularly with respect to the guiding members and preventing undesirable noise and rattling while at the same time effecting the irregular rotation of the guiding members so as to hold the shoe in position. Fig. 7 shows a rotating guiding member F provided with a curved non-circular pivot opening F of a different shape, this pivot opening being ap proximately polygonal with curved or relieved sides, an approximately triangular shape being indicated. This guiding member operates in the same smooth and desirable way in connection with. the pivot F in the shoe F. irregularly rotating guiding members may, of course, be formed in many other ways such for instance as is illustrated and described in my copending applications 122,022, filed Sept. 4, 1902 and 129,653, filed November 1, 1902.

It is not necessary in all instances that the guideways be straight. They may have an irregular surface formed in any desired way. In Figs. 5 and 6, the guideway L is shown as pirovided with the irregular guideway facing 4 which gives the guideway an irregular contour. The tops and bottoms of these periodic irregularities may be rounded off to avoid any angles, thus producing curved irregularities, such as are indicated, although, of course, such rounding off is not necessary in all cases; and these irregularities may be made of sufficient depth to give the requisite holding power in connection with the shoe and may be spaced apart at any desired pitch. It is, oi course, understood, that the irregularities on the two guideways are preferably arranged exactly opposite to each other so that the shoes are simultaneously forced inward by the action of these irregular guideways so as to give the proper holding power in connection with the spring-pressed shoes and also to maintain the proper alinement of the fixture. The shoe E is indicated as cooperating with a guideway of this character, the shoe being provided with the noncircular member E formed with the non-cir cular pivot opening E and mounted upon the pivot E so as to rotate irregularly and force the spring pressed shoe inward as will be readily understood. This shoe is constructed and mounted substantially as the shoe A, the extent of inward movement of the shoes being however, suitably increased by the irregular character of the guideways. It is desirable when a non-circular guiding member is used in connection with an irregular guideway that the pitch of the irregularities in the guideway correspond with the circumference of the guiding member, so that the inward movement of the shoe shall take place in a regular way.

lVhile it is understood that irregularly rotating guiding members of non-circular form or otherwise may be used in connection with irregular guideways as well as with straight guideways; shoes provided with circular guiding members may, however, be used in conjunction with a guideway-of this character. In Fig. 6, the shoe K is shown mounted upon the plunger K and this shoe is provided at either end with the circular guiding members K pressed into engagement with the irregular guideway and preferably rotatably mounted upon the pivots K although guiding members engaging with irregular guideways need not be rotatably mounted if formed of suitable material to properly cooperate with the guideways. These shoes operate in connection with the irre ular 'uidewa s as has alread been pointed out, to properly hold the curtain in position and prevent movement along the guideways so long as the shoes are pressed outward with a proper force and also serve to maintain the curtain in a parallel position as it is raised and lowered.

The shoes of this curtain fixture are preferably mounted upon the curtain so as to reciprocate accurately with respect thereto and these shoes may be mounted, as has been described or in any other desired way, such as is described in patent to Keeler and Duncan, 689,195, of December 17, 1901, or the patent to Keeler, 714,410, November 18, 1902. It is, of course, understood that many other modifications may be made by those familiar with this art who may make changes in the forms, proportions and numbers of parts without departing from the spirit of this invention. Furthermore, parts of this invention may be used in connection with other devices and parts of the invention may be omitted without losing the advantages which have been set forth. I do not, therefore, desire to be limited to the disclosure which has been made in this case, but

What I claim as new and what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

. 1. In a curtain fixture, a spring-actuated curtain, irregular guideways adjacent said curtain, spring-pressed shoes mounted on said curtain toreciprocate with respect thereto and to cooperate with said guideways, each of said shoes being provided with pivots and non-circular rotating guiding members having non-circular curved pivot openings therein through which said pivots pass to cause said guiding members to rotate irregularly as said shoes are moved along said guideways.

2. In a curtain fixture, a spring-actuated curtain, periodically irregular guideways of corresponding pitch on both sides of said curtain, spring-pressed shoes mounted on said curtain to cooperate with said guideways and guiding members mounted in said shoes to engage the irregularities of said guideways and to be thereby moved against such spring pressure.

3. In a curtain fixture, a spring-actuated curtain, periodically irregular guideways adjacent said curtain, springpressed shoes mounted upon said curtain to cooperate with said guideways and rotating guiding members mounted in said shoes to engage said guideways to cause said shoes to be moved longitudinally of the curtain stick by said guideways as they move along said guideways.

4. In a curtain fixture, a spring-actuated curtain, periodically irregular guideways adjacent said curtain, spring-pressed shoes mounted on said curtain to cooperate with said guideways and guiding members in said shoes to engage said guideways to cause said shoes to be moved longitudinally of the cur- -tain stick by said guideways as they move along said guideways.

5. In a curtain fixture, a curtain, periodically irregular guideways adjacent said curtain, shoes mounted on said curtain to be pressed into cooperation with said guideways and guiding members in said shoes to engage said guideways to cause said shoes to be moved longitudinally of the curtain stick by said guideways as they move along said guideways.

6. In a curtain fixture, a periodically irregular guideway, a shoe to cooperate with said guideway having rotating guiding members mounted therein to engage said guideway to cause said shoe to be moved longitudinally of the curtain stick by said guideway as it moves along said guideway.

7. In a curtain fixture, a periodically irregular guideway, a shoe to cooperate with said guideway having guiding members therein to engage said guideway and to cause said shoe to be moved longitudinally of the curtain stick by said guideway as it moves along said guideway.

8. In a curtain fixture, a spring-actuated curtain, irregular guideways adjacent said curtain, spring-pressed shoes provided with pivots mounted on said curtain to cooperate with said guideways and rotating guiding members having non-circular curved pivot openings through which said pivots pass to engage said guideways and to be rotated by contact with said guideways.

9. In a curtain fixture, an irregular guideway, a shoe provided with pivots and cooperating with said guideway and rotating guiding members having non-circular curved pivot openings through Which said pivots 'pass to engage said guideway and to be rotated by contact with said guideway.

10. In a curtain fixture, a shoe comprising a pivot and a non-circular guiding member having a non-circular curved pivot opening through which said pivot passes to rotate irregularly in said shoe.

, 11. In a curtain fixture, a shoe comprising a pivot and a rotating guiding member having a non circular curved pivot opening through which said pivot passes mounted to rotate irregularly in said shoe.

12. In a curtain fixture, a spring-actuated curtain, guideways adjacent said curtain, spring-pressed shoes mounted on said curtain to cooperate with said guideways and noncircular rotating guiding members mounted in said shoes to engage said guideways by their treads and be thereby completely rotated as said shoes move along said guide ways.

13. In a curtain fixture, a shoe comprising a substantially rigid non-circular rotating guiding member to receive complete rotation when operatively engaging a guideway.

14. In a curtain fixture, a curtain, guideways adjacent said curtain, shoes mounted to move longitudinally of the curtain stick and to be pressed into cooperation with said guideways and non-circular rotating guiding members mounted in said shoes to engage said guideways.

15. In a curtain fixture, a curtain, shoes mounted upon said curtain to be pressed into cooperation with guideways adjacent said curtain and substantially rigid noncircular rotating guiding members mounted in said shoes to engage said guideways and adapted to move the shoes longitudinally of the curtain stick.

16. In a curtain fixture, a spring-actuated curtain, a curtain tube secured to said ourtain, spring-pressed shoes mounted in said tube and pressed outward to cooperate with guideways and non-circular rotating guiding members mounted in the said shoes to en gage said guideways and be given complete rotation thereby.

17. In a curtain fixture, a curtain, guideways adjacent said curtain, shoes mounted on said curtain so as to have a relative reciprocation and pressed outward into cooperation with said guideways and non-circular rotating guiding members mounted in said shoes to engage said guideways, said shoes being moved transversely .by said guideways as said shoes move along said guideways.

18. In a curtain fixture, a shoe comprising a plurality of non-circular rotating guiding members to receive complete rotation from.

their operative engagement with the guideway.

19. In a curtain fixture, a curtain, periodically irregular guideways adjacent said ourtain, shoes mounted on said curtain to be pressed into cooperation with said, guideways and guiding members in said shoes to engage said guideways and to cause said shoes to be moved longitudinally of the curtain stick by said guideways as they move along said guideways.

20. In a curtain fixture, a curtain, shoes mounted upon said curtain to bepressed into cooperation with guideways and a plurality of non-circular rotating guiding members mounted in said shoes to engage said guideways by their treads and be rotated thereby.

21. In a curtain fixture, a spring actuated curtain, periodically irregular guideways ad jacent said curtain, spring-pressed shoes mounted on said curtain to cooperate with said guideways, and guiding members mounted in said shoes and adapted to cooperate with the irregularities of the guideways to hold the curtain in adjusted position.

22. In a curtain fixture, a spring-actuated curtain, a curtain stick secured to said curtain, spring-pressed shoes mounted on said stick and pressed outward to cooperate with guideways and non-circular rotating guiding members mounted in said shoes to engage said guideways by their treads and be rotated thereby.

23. In a curtain fixture, a curtain stick, spring-pressed shoes mounted on said stick to cooperate with the working faces of guideways which are substantially perpendicular to said curtain stick and non-circular guiding members rotatively mounted in said shoes about axes substantially perpendicular to said curtain stick and parallel to the faces of said guideways, said guiding members being rotated by contact with said guideways as the shoes move along them.

24. In a curtain fixture, an irregular guideway having a periodically curved face, a shoe cooperating with said guideWay having guidlng members therein engaging such face With a yielding action to be thereby forced laterally as said shoe moves along said guideway to yieldingly retain said shoe in position.

25. In a curtain fixture, a periodically irregular guideway, a shoe to cooperate With said guideway having a guiding member to be yieldingly pressed into engagement With said irregular guideWay and be thereby forced laterally as it moves along said guide- Way to be yieldingly retained in position.

HERBERT E. KEELER.

Witnesses:

HARRY L. DUNCAN, JESSIE B. KAY. 

